Avanza at FDU
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Avanza Program for bilingual high school students offers intensive ESL classes and academic courses, including in history, math, and science, partnering with New Jersey school districts to improve student success rates.
With the goal of helping students in grades 9-12 graduate high school, Avanza assists Latino students in fulfilling high school requirements, earning college credits, and learning academic English while opening pathways to higher education and preparing them for college life. Parents are included in every step of their process, working as a partner with FDU in ensuring their child’s success.
Program highlights
- Fulfill high school course requirements with bilingual education
- Experience university life and earn up to 24 college credits
- Work with experienced bilingual faculty and staff who are committed to student success
- Attend dedicated workshops, peer mentorship activities and parent-teacher conferences
- Incur no out-of-pocket expenses, with transportation and books covered fully
- Benefit from course schedules that mirror school district hours and academic calendars
FDU is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
Course selection
Courses offered through Avanza are diverse covering many topic areas. Each student ultimately receives a customized course plan. Courses offered include:
- ESL (mandatory)
- U.S. History 1
- U.S. History 2
- World History
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Integrated Science
- Literature
- Spanish Literature
- Algebra 1
- Algebra 2
- Geometry
Administration and staff
Avanza is led by a group of highly talented and motivated individuals who are passionate about ensuring that students have the opportunity to reach their full potential at the college level:
- Irene Oujo, PhD, Executive Director, oujo@fdu.edu
- Luz Helena Flores, Associate Director for Recruitment and Community Outreach, hf24@fdu.edu
- Arianne Alvarez, Transition Specialist, arianne27@fdu.edu